Properly positioning your body can help relieve and reduce your shortness of breath. Try these positions to see what helps you most.

Sit down and put your back against the back of the chair. Roll your head forward and relax your shoulders downward. Rest your hands and forearms on your thighs, palms up. Don't put any weight on your hands. Rest your feet flat on the floor, knees pointed slightly out.

Put a pillow on a table and sit down. Fold your arms and rest them on the pillow. Keep your feet flat on the floor or raised on a stool. Rest your head on your arms. You can also use this position while standing. Rest your arms on a counter or on the back of a chair. Do not lean! Put one foot in front of the other and bend your knees slightly.

Lean against a wall, pole, or other straight vertical surface that can support your weight. Place your feet slightly apart at a comfortable distance from the wall. Relax your head and shoulders.

Breathing control techniques

Pursed-lip breathing

With your mouth closed, breathe in through your nose slowly for a count of 1.

Purse your lips (it should look and feel as if you were about to whistle).

Breathe out gently for a count of 2. Do not try to force out the air.

Repeat until you're no longer short of breath.

Diaphragmatic breathing

Relax. Use a comfortable position and relax your shoulders.

Place one hand on your upper chest, and the other on your stomach just above your waist.

Breathe in slowly through your nose. The hand on your stomach should go up. The hand on your chest should stay still.

Breathe out slowly through pursed lips. The hand on your stomach should go down as you breathe out.